Abstract: An apparatus abates noise from the operation of a drill head including a drilling element for engaging a face of a mine passage during a drilling cycle in which the drill head moves from a first position farther from the face to a second position closer to the face. The apparatus includes a collapsible barrier capable of moving between an extended condition to cover a portion of the drilling element during the formation of the borehole and a retracted condition in which the portion of the drilling element covered in the extended condition is exposed. A holder is adapted for releasably coupling with the barrier in the extended condition. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is for use by an operator in forming boreholes in a mine passage including a rib and a roof. The apparatus includes a boom having a proximal end mounted to a base, such as a vehicle. A drill supported by the boom near a distal end thereof is adapted for drilling into the rib of the mine passage. An operator's station carried by the boom adjacent the drill includes a platform for supporting the operator arranged at least partially between a generally vertical plane aligned with the second lateral side and the rib. Accordingly, the operator can access the rib when positioned on the operator's station without interference from the boom.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus involve monitoring spin locks for guest devices. Fully virtualized guests have multiple virtual processors configured under the scheduling control of a hypervisor on a physical hardware platform. The hypervisor posts On CPU and CR3 load information to shared communications pages for each of the processors. A monitoring module in the guest device monitors the pages to ascertain forward progress of the processors. If forward progress is being made, the virtual processors continue to spin. If not, the CPU's control is variously relinquished. The monitoring module typifies a kernel driver so that the guest can maintain an unmodified operating system. Ticket spin locks, and their ordering, are also considered as are computations for lock owners. Other features contemplate computing systems and computer program products, to name a few.

Abstract: Cytotoxic ?? T cells form an essential component in immunity to infections and tumors, and are also implicated in host defense against these challenges. The present disclosure demonstrates the ability of activated ?? T cells to cross-present exogenous antigens to CD8+ ?? T cells, a process previously thought to be mediated best by dendritic cells. In particular, the present disclosure provides a method for cross-presentation of antigen derived from tumor cell or microbial organisms such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, parasites, and the like, or from cells infected with such organisms, to a CD8+ ?? T cell. Still further, the present disclosure provides a method for treatment of a tumor or a chronic or recurrent infectious disease, comprising delivering an antigen-presenting autologous ?? T cell population above into a patient requiring such treatment. Still yet further, a method is described for preparing a peptide-specific effector T cell.

Abstract: A floor care appliance has a body including a control assembly and a nozzle assembly, a rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly and a dirt collection vessel carried on the body. In addition a suction generator is carried on the body. The suction generator includes a fan and a drive motor. A belt operably connects the drive motor to the rotary agitator. An agitator drive interrupt mechanism includes an idler pulley support and first and second idler pulleys carried on the idler pulley support. The idler pulley support is displaceable between a first position wherein the idler pulleys tension the belt to provide drive to the rotary agitator and a second position wherein the idler pulleys de-tension the belt and interrupt drive to the rotary agitator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel peptide, polypeptide or monoclonal antibody for use in the treatment of conditions characterized by elevated levels of ?-amyloid (A? 39-43 amino acid peptide) in a subject, especially Alzheimer's Disease. The invention particularly relates to an amyloid precursor protein (APP)-binding polypeptide which, when administered outside an APP-expressing cell, reduces the release of A? 39-43 by the cell.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a charger for use in a system for separating particles from a fluid flow is disclosed. In one embodiment, the charger comprises a body including an inlet for receiving the particles, a chamber in which the particles are received, and an outlet for discharging the particles. A rotor having a generally non-permeable surface is positioned in the chamber and rotated for contacting and charging the particles. In another aspect of the invention, grid electrodes with elongated fingers are proposed for use in a novel separation system. Related methods of charging and separating particles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for removing and capturing carbon dioxide from a fluid stream includes the steps of exposing the fluid stream to an aqueous scrubbing solution that removes and holds carbon dioxide from the fluid stream, passing the aqueous scrubbing solution through a membrane in order to separate excess water from the scrubbing solution and increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the scrubbing solution, heating the scrubbing solution having an increased concentration of carbon dioxide so as to release carbon dioxide gas and recycling the scrubbing solution. A carbon dioxide capture apparatus includes a carbon dioxide scrubber, a membrane downstream from the scrubber for separating water and concentrating carbon dioxide in a scrubbing solution and a stripper vessel.

Abstract: A machine for forming a bale including a plurality of bags includes a conveyor for conveying each of the bags to an inlet opening. A film feeder is positioned adjacent the inlet opening, along with a former for forming a sleeve from the film adjacent to the inlet opening. Means for pushing, such as a pusher, is provided for pushing the bags into the sleeve. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple color multi-function light bar for a law enforcement vehicle, emergency vehicle, tow truck or the like. The light bar includes a plurality of light emitting diodes aligned in a single row. Each of the plurality of light emitting diodes are configured to emit two different colors of light through a single optical lens. Advantageously, the light bar is capable of producing a single color light pattern and a dual color light pattern based upon the particular emergency or traffic control situation encountered by an operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of a woven fabric layer composed of at least two woven fabric fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon is formed with a first fiber layer including a first fiber and a second fiber layer over said first fiber layer. The first fiber is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the non-compliant medical balloon.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. Each fiber of the first group begins in the neck wall at one end of the balloon, extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminates in the neck wall at the opposite end of the balloon. Substantially all of the fibers of the first group have a generally uniform length. Each fiber of the second group begins in the cone wall at one end of the balloon, extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminates in the cone wall at the opposite end of the balloon.

Abstract: The present specification generally relates to improvements to combustors such as burners and engines. In one aspect, the specification presents an acoustically enhanced ejector system which can be used as part of an intake system for a combustor. In another aspect, the specification teaches the use of a combustor combustion chamber as an oscillator to magnify a harmonic frequency of a pulsating frequency of the combustor. In still other aspects, the specification presents a combustion chamber having an inlet with a plurality of tangentially spaced apertures, and an in-line intake system connected to the apertures.

Abstract: A stirrup pad for equitation includes a top member defining a surface for contacting at least a portion of a sole of a rider's foot or footwear and at least one side edge, and a rear member defining a surface for contacting at least a portion of a heel of the rider's foot or footwear. The rear member extends downwardly from the top member side edge. The top member is oriented along a first plane, and the rear member is oriented along a second plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. A front member may be included, extending downwardly from the top member side edge. At least the front member and the rear member include flange elements for removably attaching the stirrup pad to a stirrup.

Abstract: A gear mounting has a spindle (11) extending substantially normal to a carrier (12) and capable of radial excursions from an initial position, when under load. The spindle and carrier have generally conical abutment surfaces (23, 24) normals to which extend substantially through the centroid of a projecting portion of the spindle, and in the initial position of the spindle there is a gap between the abutment surfaces.

Abstract: A new method of producing liquid transportation fuels from coal and other hydrocarbons that significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions by combining Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with catalytic dehydrogenation is claimed. Catalytic dehydrogenation (CDH) of the gaseous products (C1-C4) of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) can produce large quantities of hydrogen while converting the carbon to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Incorporation of CDH into a FTS-CDH plant converting coal to liquid fuels can eliminate all or most of the CO2 emissions from the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction that is currently used to elevate the H2 level of coal-derived syngas for FTS. Additionally, the FTS-CDH process saves large amounts of water used by the WGS reaction and produces a valuable by-product, MWCNT.

Abstract: A finely adjustable firing valve comprising a first valve (10) providing a first inlet (20) and a first discharge (21) connected through a first actuation chamber (22), and having a first shutter (23), a second valve (11) having a second shutter (37), a third valve (12), having a third shutter (43), characterized in that it comprises a piston (24) bound to said first shutter (23) that slides within said first chamber (22), of such a size that the upper surface of said piston (24) affected by the pressure inside said first chamber (22) is substantially equal to the lower surface of said piston (24) affected by the pressure existing in said first inlet (20).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for generating private network addresses for scopes of validity within a network is provided. The method comprises generating an address prefix or address modifier indicating the type of scopes, the instances of the scopes, and the relative position of the scopes in the network. In this illustrative embodiment, the type of scope determines the value of the prefix data placed in the address prefix and/or the location of that prefix data within the address prefix. The method further comprises generating a standard Internet protocol address for the scope to be created, the address including a subnet prefix and a host ID. The method further comprises saving the address prefix in a routing data structure along with the standard Internet protocol address, such that the address prefix is associated at a higher level in the hierarchy of the standard Internet protocol address.